E-mail, Feeds, 'n' Stuff

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

While I do my civic duty

I can't blog from a jury box, and so here are a couple of news items from today's O that you might want to chew on:

First, columnist Steve Duin takes a shot at the Oregon beer and wine tax, which he connects convincingly to the utter lack of a meaningful ethics system in our state government. It's the Maui thing, people. And from the sound of things, don't expect serious reform out of this legislative session.

Second, the move by the Portland City Council to take control over the Portland Development Commission budget seems to be petering out. Buried way down in a story about the new spirit of nicey-nicey among the five city councilmen is news that "Sten points to his decision to back off on demands for greater oversight over the PDC's budget without a citywide vote, a requirement for the mayor." So now I guess they're not going to Salem for a statutory change that would make Portland like all other Oregon cities in that regard.

Hmmm. The PDC appears ready to play ball with the construction unions, and I expect that the council's zeal to "reform" the PDC will fade quietly away as a result.

Speaking of the O, is it just my imagination, or are they publishing fewer news stories? This mornings front section was a tiny 6 pages and the business section has been very light the last couple of weeks. Is it becoming the lite O?

Not so. We are still working to amend the statute because the city atty has advised the council a change in current statute needs to take place before the charter can be amended by voters to give council budget authority.

The language in the bill will only change to make clear a referral to voters must take place before the council can become the PDC budget committee.

Speaking of the O, is it just my imagination, or are they publishing fewer news stories? This mornings front section was a tiny 6 pages and the business section has been very light the last couple of weeks. Is it becoming the lite O?

Its a strange fact of the universe that the amount of news varies in direct proportion to the amount of advertizing that is sold.

"Speaking of the O, is it just my imagination, or are they publishing fewer news stories? This mornings front section was a tiny 6 pages and the business section has been very light the last couple of weeks. Is it becoming the lite O?"

Decreased advertising sales are a good explanation, but I prefer to believe that the O is beginning to realize how irrelevant it is.

You know, if they were really worried about what alcohol is doing to people in the state, you would think they would get out of the liquor business. Selling hard alcohol at a 100% profit (or more) and then asking for more money to help the effects of people drinking it is pretty sad. (But of course, typical.)

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 156
At this date last year: 225
Total run in 2014: 401
In 2013: 257
In 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269